Policy pathways to vehicle automation: Industry perspectives on the role of public policy in autonomous vehicle development

Federal regulation of the automotive industry has traditionally sought to ensure public safety. Autonomous vehicles could greatly reduce crashes from human error, resulting in significant interest from federal transportation agencies. Autonomous vehicles present a new challenge to the regulation of safety-related technologies, due in part to the lack of clarity in how technology will evolve and affect traffic safety. The federal government has already invested significant effort in the study of connected vehicle technologies and their safety-related applications, some of which could be utilized for autonomous vehicle applications. Thus, federal mandates on the inclusion of connected vehicle technologies in future model vehicles offer one pathway for the federal government to provide regulatory guidance on the development of autonomous vehicles. However, it is also possible that such a mandate could stifle autonomous vehicle development, as it is still unclear what technologies are best suited for autonomous vehicle systems. For this research effort, the team interviewed representatives of automotive manufacturers and in-vehicle systems developers who are active in the development of autonomous and connected vehicle technologies to gain their perspective on the potential role of state and federal authorities in establishing public policy related to connected and automated vehicles. In general, the perspective of the industry is that more work needs to be done on resolving potential liability issues and any regulation of the industry needs to occur with a focus on maintaining an environment of innovation.